School Counselor Salary in Idaho: $60,555 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Idaho's 16 metropolitan areas, the average median school counselor pay sits at $60,555/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 21-1012. Because Idaho sits at BEA RPP 95.3 (5% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $63,541 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Boise ($60,482), Nampa ($60,024), Boise City ($59,770).
In Idaho, the 2026 average median salary for school counselors is projected at $60,555, which is 5.9% lower than the national median of $64,335. Within the state, Boise offers the highest salaries at $61,722, while Mountain Home provides the lowest at $56,145, indicating a salary gap of $5,577. This difference can be attributed to various factors, including the cost of living, funding for school programs, and demand for counselors in urban versus rural areas. Idaho has specific state licensing requirements for school counselors, which include holding a master’s degree in school counseling and completing a supervised internship. The scope of practice laws in Idaho also shape the role of school counselors, affecting their responsibilities and workload. Demand for professional counselors is driven by increasing awareness of mental health in educational settings, making the job market relatively stable. With a projected 2.05% annual growth rate, the employment outlook for school counselors appears positive, with a total of 1,487 professionals employed across the state. Key cities such as Nampa ($61,254), Boise City ($60,995), Coeur d'Alene ($60,985), and Caldwell ($60,014) also show promising salary levels for school counselors, indicating a healthy job market in Idaho’s educational landscape.
Idaho School Counselor Salary Range
Overall salary range in Idaho: $39,539 (lowest entry-level) to $95,669 (highest top earner)
Idaho vs National Average
Idaho school counselors earn 5.88% less than the national median ($-3,780/year difference).
Idaho School Counselor Salary Distribution (2026)
School Counselor salaries in Idaho range from $45,239 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $82,146 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $60,555. The Idaho median is $3,780 below the US national median of $64,335. The average hourly rate is $29.11/hr. Approximately 1,487 school counselors are employed across 16 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$45,835
2025 BLS Actual
$59,339
2026 Current Est.
$60,555
2019–2027 Growth
+34.8%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Idaho (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $45,835 | Actual |
| 2020 | $47,205 | Actual |
| 2021 | $48,424 | Actual |
| 2022 | $50,245 | Actual |
| 2023 | $49,143 | Actual |
| 2024 | $60,474 | Actual |
| 2025 | $59,339 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $60,555 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $61,797 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Idaho metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 29.5% from $45,835 (2019) to $59,339 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $61,797 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,962 (34.82%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Idaho metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.05% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Idaho
Lowest Paying Cities in Idaho
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Mountain Home | $56,145 |
| Eagle | $56,703 |
| Post Falls | $57,235 |
| Kuna | $57,586 |
| Moscow | $58,057 |
Best Value Cities for School Counselors in Idaho
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Idaho cities offer the most purchasing power for school counselors.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston | $59,535 | 91.16 | $65,308 |
| Boise | $61,722 | 95.3 | $64,766 |
| Twin Falls | $59,545 | 92.108 | $64,647 |
| Nampa | $61,254 | 95.3 | $64,275 |
| Caldwell | $60,014 | 95.3 | $62,974 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Idaho
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $45,239 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $60,555 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $82,146 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Idaho metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 16 Cities in Idaho
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boise | $61,722 |
| 2 | Nampa | $61,254 |
| 3 | Boise City | $60,995 |
| 4 | Coeur d'Alene | $60,985 |
| 5 | Caldwell | $60,014 |
| 6 | Meridian | $59,768 |
| 7 | Pocatello | $59,768 |
| 8 | Twin Falls | $59,545 |
| 9 | Lewiston | $59,535 |
| 10 | Rexburg | $58,986 |
| 11 | Idaho Falls | $58,955 |
| 12 | Moscow | $58,057 |
| 13 | Kuna | $57,586 |
| 14 | Post Falls | $57,235 |
| 15 | Eagle | $56,703 |
| 16 | Mountain Home | $56,145 |
More Idaho Salary Data
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced school counselors.
Explore More School Counselor Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do school counselors make in Idaho in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for school counselors in Idaho?
How does Idaho school counselor pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level school counselor salary in Idaho?
How many school counselors are employed in Idaho?
Which Idaho city offers the best value for school counselors?
Written by Maria Gonzalez, M.Ed.
Content Lead
Maria has over 10 years of experience in school counseling. She specializes in academic and emotional support for high school students. She works at a public high school in California.
Methodology & Data Source
Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.05% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 school counselor compensation across Idaho. State averages are employment-weighted across 16 metro areas — larger metro areas with more school counselorscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.05%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for school counselors (SOC 21-1012).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, M.Ed., a licensed school counselor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov